Our competition proposal, Kera Era, focuses on the feasibility of the area development of a future residential area in Kera, Espoo. The current industrial area of Kera will be transformed into a pleasant, smart and efficient residential and working area. Estimated number of people living in the competition area will reach up to 12.000 people in the next decades.

Kera Era was created using the backcasting method: three optimistic scenarios for 2030 were defined first. The timeline was then flipped backwards to point towards the present, identifying the practices and mid-term goals needed to reach the desired future scenario. After that, beginning from the present, three innovator and early adopter groups were defined and followed until the future, through the Kera Era all the way to the New Kera in 2030.

Our 2nd phase proposal focuses on the three core ideas of Service-led development, Placemaking and branding and Cityscaping. Detailed case studies are presented to show the actual steps needed to make Kera an attractive and liveable area already during the construction process, starting from day one. During the competition Studio Puisto and Hukkatila gathered a sizeable network of collaborators to make this possible.

The tangible case studies also present answers for circular economy solutions, ideas to support mobility and the 20-minute neighbourhood, and how to bring the nature back to an industrial area. The proposal presents a bold future vision for the future residential area with a firm grip on reality.